Film processing envelope

ABSTRACT

An envelope for use in the handling and processing of film, having outer plies connected together on three sides to form an envelope pocket, a flap on the open end of the envelope and a removable customer&#39;&#39;s and dealer&#39;&#39;s copy attached to the flap and underlying the envelope. Customer and film identification information is placed on the outer surface of the envelope and transferred to the underlying copy by means of a sheet of transfer paper disclosed between the envelope and the copy. A gummed tab, having identification indicia thereon corresponding to identification indicia provided on the envelope and on the copy, may be removably attached to the flap before inserting it within the envelope. Also, the flap may be gummed for sealing the envelope, both before being sent for processing and before it is returned to the dealer.

United States Patent [1 1 Hulbert FILM PROCESSING ENVELOPE *[75] Inventor: Allison G. Hulbert, Edmonton,

Alberta, Canada [73] Assignee: Moore Business Forms, Inc.,

Niagara Falls, NY.

221 Filed: July 17,1972

21 App]. No.: 272,216

[52] US. Cl. 229/70 Primary Examiner-Davis T. Moorhead Attorney-Lawrence R Radanovic ABSTRACT An envelope for use in the handling and processing of film, having outer plies connected together on three sides to form an envelope pocket, a flap on the open end of the envelope and a removable customers and dealers copy attached to the flap and underlying the envelope. Customer and film identification information is placed on the outer surface of the envelope and transferred to the underlying copy by means of a sheet of transfer paper disclosed between the envelope and the copy. A gummed tab, having identification indicia thereon corresponding to identification indicia provided on the envelope and on the copy, may be removably attached to the flap before inserting it within the envelope. Also, the flap may be gummed for sealing the envelope, both before being sent for processing and before it is returned to the dealer.

7 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures Patented Oct. 9, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIGI vPatented Oct. 9, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 FILM PROCESSING ENVELOPE This invention relates generally to an envelope assembly for use in the handling of film and prints for photo-finishing or the like, and more particularly, this invention relates to anenvelopeconstruction which is provided with an easily removable receipt sheet or both the customer and the dealer after the customer and film information is placed on the envelope and is transferred onto this receipt sheet.

In similar envelopes designed for handling film and the like, both the name and address of the customer and identification of the film to be processed must be written on both the envelope and on the dealers receipt separately. A receipt stub, which may be removed from some portion of the envelope, is also left with the customer so that upon presentation thereof to the dealer after the film is processed, the processed film may be delivered to the customer after the dealer matches up the number on the stub corresponding with the number on the envelope returned by the processor. W Recording of information on both the envelope and on the dealers receipt, however, involves a duplication of effort which is obviously time-consuming for the .dealer. Moreover, the film processor oftentimes confuses one film with another after the envelope has been opened so that he is likely to return the processed film in an envelope not belonging to the customer identified thereon. Y

A principal'object of the present invention is to provide an envelope assembly having both a receipt sheet and a sheet of transfer material removably attached to z the envelope in such a manner as to produce a compact and presentable envelope assembly for use in the handling of film.

' Another object of this invention is to provide such an envelope assembly wherein a flap is provided at one end of a pair of outer plies constituting an envelope pocket, the flap serving to close the envelope and the transfer sheet and receipt sheet being both attached to a tear strip secured to both the free end of the flap and the free end of the other envelope ply along respective lines of perforations so that the tear strip, the receipt shee'tand the transfer sheet may be removed altogether along these lines of perforations.

, A further object of the present invention is to provide such an envelope assembly wherein a gummed tab. is removably attached to the flap, the tab having identification indicia thereon corresponding to identification indicia provided on both the envelope and the receipt sheet so that the film itself may bear this same identificatiofiindicia when the tab is placed thereon before placing the film within the envelope.

A still further object of this invention is to provide .such an envelope assembly wherein the flap is provided with-gummed adhesive also and a coated release strip "is provided over the gummed adhesive of both the flap and the tab.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detaile'd description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top isometric view of the envelope assembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view through the assembly taken along the line 2-2 of the FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded isometric view of the assembly showing each of the plies and sheets which make up the assembly;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 except on a slightly smaller scale showing the first step of recording the necessary information on the envelope;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the manner of removing the envelope from the assembly;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the manner of placing the gummed tab on the film to be processed and removal of the release-coat strip before placing the film in the envelope shown in FIG. 7 and thereafter sending the film to the processor in the envelope shown inFIG.8;' a 7,

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 5 except the receipt sheet is shown after it has been removed from a carbon sheet and tear strip; and

FIG. 10 is a view showing placement of a portion of the receipt sheet in the de alers records with another divisible portion of the sheet being left with the customer.

Turning now to the drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like and corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown an envelope assembly generally designated 20 in FIGS. 1 through 3 including outer plies 21 and 22 connected together by means of a suitable adhesive as at 23 along three sides to form an envelope pocket having an open end. A flap 24 for closing the envelope is attached to the free end of ply 21 along a fold line 25.

A tear margin 26, having feed control holes therein used during manufacture of the envelope assembly and forming no part of the present invention, is attached to the envelope by means of a tear strip 27 connected to the free end of flap 24 along a line of perforations 28. The tear margin includes a removable strip 29 adhesively secured to the underside thereof, this removable strip being attached to the free end of ply 22 along a line of perforations 31. A sheet of carbon or similar type transfer material 32 is secured to the underside of strip 29 and a receipt sheet 33 is secured along a line of perforations 34 to a strip 35 secured to the underside of transfer sheet 32 and forming a portion of the tear margin 26.

As can be clearly seen, flap 24 includes a tab 36 removably attached thereto along lines of perforations 37, 38. This tab is provided on its undersurface with a strip of adhesive 39 (.see FIG. 6) which may be a reseal gum or a non-drying pressure-sensitive adhesive. Such adhesive 39 is also provided on the underside of the remaining portion of flap 24. A paper cover 41 is provided for adhesive 39, this cover being a commonly available release-coat paper. The tab 36 has identifica- .tion indicia thereon, e.g., 1949, which corresponds to the same identification indicia provided on outer ply 21 of the envelope and on the receipt sheet 33 in two places (see FIGS. 9 and 10) for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

Tuming to the remaining FIGS. 4 through 10, use of the envelope assembly will be described, starting with FIG. 4 which shows the name and address of the customer being placed on the front surface of outer ply 21. The tear margin 26 is thereafter removed from the envelope whereby the strip 27 will be removed along its line of perforations 28 and the strip 29 will be removed along its line of perforations 31. Since the transfer sheet 32 and the receipt sheet 33 are both secured to the tear margin 26, they, too, will be separated from the envelope along with the tear margin. FIG. 9 shows the receipt sheet 33 after it has been separated from the tear margin along its line of perforations 34. This receipt sheet is divided into a dealers receipt section 330 and a customer's receipt section 33b along a line of perforations 42.

After the envelope has been separated from the remainder of the assembly, the gummed tab 36 is removed from flap 24 along lines of perforations 37, 38, as shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings. The gummed tab is then physically placed on a roll of film F and inserted within the pocket of the envelope. The cover strip 41 is then removed from the adhesive 39 of the flap 24 whereafter the flap is folded along its fold line 25 to close and seal the envelope, in a manner shown in FIG. 8. The receipt sheet section 33b is then given to the customer for his retention and the receipt sheet 33a is preserved by the dealer in his records in any normal manner as shown in FIG. 10. Of course, the tear margin including strip 27, strip 29 and transfer sheet 32 may be discarded.

The envelope E with the Film inside is then sent to the processor who may simply open the flap 24 and, after the film has been processed, place the gummed tab 36 onto the processed film package and insert it back within the envelope pocket of envelope E bearing the same identification number 1949 as the envelope. The envelope is closed by means of flap 24 and is sealed with the same resealable adhesive 39 thereon. Upon receipt of the processed film by the dealer, the identification number on the envelope is matched up with the identification number on the customers receipt section 33b and the envelope package is delivered to the customer.

From the foregoing it can be seen that an envelope assembly has been devised as a compact unit which facilitates a quick and easy recording of the customer identification thereon without any duplication of effort by reason of an attached receipt sheet underlying the envelope with a sheet of transfer material disposed between the envelope and the receipt sheet. The envelope may be easily separated from the remainder of the assembly along a pair of spaced lines of perforations whereafter the envelope may be effectively closed and sealed by means of an envelope flap after the film to be processed is positively identified with a number corresponding to the same number on the envelope and on each of the customer receipt and dealer receipt sections. In the alternative, it should be noted that the adhesive 39 may be eliminated from the envelope flap 24 is desired so that the flap may be simply stapled or therwise secured in place over the envelope pocket. Moreover, fold line 25 may also be eliminated from the flap and the tab 36 may be either secured in some other manner to the film to be processed or it may be eliminated altogether without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. An envelope assembly comprising: top and bottom plies connected together along three sides thereby defining an envelope having an open end, a flap provided on one of said plies at said open end and extending outwardly thereof for closing said envelope, a receipt sheet underlying said envelope and being removably attached to said flap, a sheet of transfer material disposed between said receipt sheet and said envelope for transferring indicia on to said receipt sheet from said envelope, and a tab having identification indicia thereon corresponding to identification indicia provided on said envelope and on said sheet, said tab being removably attached to said flap, adhesive securing means on both said tab and said flap for, respectively, adhesively securing said tab on to the film to be processed and for closing the open end of said envelope.

2. The envelope assembly according to claim 1 wherein said receipt sheet is attached to the free end of said flap by means of a tear strip attached thereto along a line of perforations, said receipt sheet being also attached to the free end of the other one of said plies at said open end by means of a removable strip attached thereto along a line of perforations, said removable strip and said transfer sheet both being secured to said tear strip, whereby said receipt sheet, said removable strip, said transfer sheet and said tear strip may be removed altogether along both said lines of perforations.

3. The envelope assembly according to claim 2 wherein said receipt sheet is removably attached to said tear strip along a line of perforations, said receipt sheet being divided into a customer receipt section and a dealer receipt section along a line of perforations.

4. The envelope assembly according to claim 2 wherein said adhesive securing means comprises a gummed pressure sensitive adhesive, and wherein a strip of release-coat paper is provided over said adhesive.

5. The envelope assembly according to claim 2 wherein a fold line is provided for said flap along which said flap may be folded for closing said envelope.

6. An envelope assembly comprising: top and bottom plies connected together along three sides thereby defining an envelope having an open end, a flap provided on one of said plies at said open end and extending outwardly thereof for closing said envelope, a receipt sheet removably attached to the free end of said flap by means of a tear strip attached thereto along a line of perforations, said receipt sheet also being attached to the free end of the other one of said plies at said open end by means of a removable tear strip attached thereto'along a line of perforations, a sheet of transfer material disposed between said receipt sheet and said envelope for transferring indicia on to said receipt sheet from said envelope, said removable strip and said transfer sheet both being secured to said tear strip, whereby said receipt sheet, said removable strip, said transfer sheet and said tear strip may be removed altogether along both said lines of perforations.

7. The envelope assembly according to claim 6 wherein said receipt sheet is removably attached to said tear strip along a line of perforations, said receipt sheet being divided into a customer receipt station and a dealer receipt section along a line of perforations. 

1. An envelope assembly comprising: top and bottom plies connected together along three sides thereby defining an envelope having an open end, a flap provided on one of said plies at said open end and extending outwardly thereof for closing said envelope, a receipt sheet underlying said envelope and being removably attached to said flap, a sheet of transfer material disposed between said receipt sheet and said envelope for transferring indicia on to said receipt sheet from said envelope, and a tab having identification indicia thereon corresponding to identification indicia provided On said envelope and on said sheet, said tab being removably attached to said flap, adhesive securing means on both said tab and said flap for, respectively, adhesively securing said tab on to the film to be processed and for closing the open end of said envelope.
 2. The envelope assembly according to claim 1 wherein said receipt sheet is attached to the free end of said flap by means of a tear strip attached thereto along a line of perforations, said receipt sheet being also attached to the free end of the other one of said plies at said open end by means of a removable strip attached thereto along a line of perforations, said removable strip and said transfer sheet both being secured to said tear strip, whereby said receipt sheet, said removable strip, said transfer sheet and said tear strip may be removed altogether along both said lines of perforations.
 3. The envelope assembly according to claim 2 wherein said receipt sheet is removably attached to said tear strip along a line of perforations, said receipt sheet being divided into a customer receipt section and a dealer receipt section along a line of perforations.
 4. The envelope assembly according to claim 2 wherein said adhesive securing means comprises a gummed pressure sensitive adhesive, and wherein a strip of release-coat paper is provided over said adhesive.
 5. The envelope assembly according to claim 2 wherein a fold line is provided for said flap along which said flap may be folded for closing said envelope.
 6. An envelope assembly comprising: top and bottom plies connected together along three sides thereby defining an envelope having an open end, a flap provided on one of said plies at said open end and extending outwardly thereof for closing said envelope, a receipt sheet removably attached to the free end of said flap by means of a tear strip attached thereto along a line of perforations, said receipt sheet also being attached to the free end of the other one of said plies at said open end by means of a removable tear strip attached thereto along a line of perforations, a sheet of transfer material disposed between said receipt sheet and said envelope for transferring indicia on to said receipt sheet from said envelope, said removable strip and said transfer sheet both being secured to said tear strip, whereby said receipt sheet, said removable strip, said transfer sheet and said tear strip may be removed altogether along both said lines of perforations.
 7. The envelope assembly according to claim 6 wherein said receipt sheet is removably attached to said tear strip along a line of perforations, said receipt sheet being divided into a customer receipt station and a dealer receipt section along a line of perforations. 